Apparatus and a record carrier for, and a method of recording a sequence of video data signals

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for recording a sequence of video data signals on a record carrier has been proposed. The apparatus comprises input means ( 1 ) for receiving video data signals, generating means ( 100 ) for generating characteristic point information signals, processing means ( 100 ) for processing the characteristic point information signals for a plurality of characteristic points into a sequence of characteristic points information signals (CPI) and writing means ( 102 ) for writing the sequence of video data signals and the sequence of characteristic points information signals on the record carrier. The characteristic point information signals identify a characteristic point in the sequence of video data signals. Various measures are proposed in relation to the CPI aiming at improving quality of trickplay and random access playback operations.

This application claims the benefit or priority of and describesrelationships between the following applications: wherein thisapplication is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/502,811, filed Jul. 27, 2004, which is the National Stage ofInternational Application No. PCT/IB 2003/000126, filed Jan. 17, 2003,which claims the priority of foreign application EP 02075462.8 filedFeb. 1, 2002, all of which are incorporated herein in whole byreference.

The invention relates to an apparatus for recording a sequence of videodata signals on a record carrier, the sequence of video data signalscomprising pictures of an intra-picture type coded without reference toother pictures and pictures of an inter-picture type coded withreference to other pictures, the apparatus comprising:

-   -   input means for receiving video data signals and;    -   generating means for generating characteristic point information        signals, the characteristic point information signals        identifying a characteristic point in the sequence of video data        signals, the characteristic point being related to a picture        selected from the pictures of the intra-picture type and the        pictures of the inter-picture type, the characteristic point        information signals comprising a block of information, the block        of information comprising:        -   position data defining a position of the characteristic            point in the sequence of video data signals; and        -   identification data identifying the characteristic point;    -   processing means for processing the characteristic point        information signals for a plurality of characteristic points        into a sequence of characteristic points information signals;        and    -   writing means for writing the sequence of video data signals and        the sequence of characteristic points information signals on the        record carrier.

The invention further relates to an apparatus for reproducing a sequenceof video data signals comprising pictures of an intra-picture type codedwithout reference to other pictures and pictures of an inter-picturetype coded with reference to other pictures, using for the sequence ofvideo data signals a corresponding sequence of characteristic pointsinformation signals comprising a characteristic point informationsignals for a plurality of characteristic points, the characteristicpoint information signals identifying a characteristic point in thesequence of video data signals, the characteristic point being relatedto a picture selected from the pictures of the intra-picture type andthe pictures of the inter-picture type, the characteristic pointinformation signals comprising a block of information which comprises:

-   -   position data defining a position of the characteristic point in        the sequence of video data signals;    -   identification data identifying the characteristic point; the        apparatus comprising:        -   input means for receiving the sequence of video data signals            and a corresponding sequence of characteristic points            information signals;        -   extracting means for extracting the block of information            from the sequence of characteristic points information            signals;        -   processing means for processing the sequence of video data            signals into video data signals using the block of            information.

In addition, the invention relates to a method of generating a sequenceof information signals concerning characteristic points in a sequence ofvideo data signals comprising pictures of an intra-picture type codedwithout reference to other pictures and pictures of an inter-picturetype coded with reference to other pictures, in which for acharacteristic point related to a picture selected from the pictures ofthe intra-picture type and the pictures of the inter-picture type, ablock of information is generated, the block of information comprising:

-   -   position data defining a position of the characteristic point in        the sequence of video data signals; and    -   identification data identifying the characteristic point.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a record carriercomprising a sequence of video data signals, the sequence of video datasignals comprising pictures of an intra-picture type coded withoutreference to other pictures and pictures of an inter-picture type codedwith reference to other pictures, the record carrier further comprisingfor the sequence of video data signals a corresponding sequence ofcharacteristic points information signals comprising a characteristicpoint information signals for a plurality of characteristic points, thecharacteristic point information signals identifying a characteristicpoint in the sequence of video data signals, the characteristic pointbeing related to a picture selected from the pictures of theintra-picture type and the pictures of the inter-picture type, thecharacteristic point information signals comprising a block ofinformation which comprises:

-   -   position data defining a position of the characteristic point in        the sequence of video data signals;    -   identification data identifying the characteristic point.

The development of the large-capacity rewritable media, like DVD+RW orDVD-RW optical discs, offers a unique technology for storing andaccessing full-motion video data. As these data require a large amountof storage capacity, various types of video compression algorithms areused to reduce the amount of necessary storage capacity. Generally,these algorithms use a concept referred to as inter-picture compression,which involves storing only the differences between successive picturesin the data file. Inter-picture compression stores the entire image of akey picture or a reference picture, generally in a moderately compressedformat. Successive pictures are compared with the key picture, and onlythe differences between the key picture and the successive pictures arestored. Periodically, such as when new scenes are displayed, new keypictures are stored, and subsequent comparisons begin from this newreference point.

A compression standard referred to as MPEG (Moving Pictures ExpertsGroup) compression is a set of methods for compression and decompressionof full motion video pictures which uses the inter-picture compressiontechnique described above. The key, intra-pictures are referred to asI-pictures 23. The inter-pictures are divided into two groups:inter-pictures coded using only past reference elements which arereferred to as P-pictures 25 and inter-pictures coded using a pastand/or future reference, referred to as B-pictures 24.

An embodiment of a method described in the opening paragraph is knownfrom published international patent application WO 00/28544, whichteaches how to extract pointers to the I-pictures and to the P-picturesin a sequence of video data. Information concerning these pointersconstitutes a sequence of characteristic points information, hereinafteralso referred to as a CPI.

In general, a CPI is used to determine the location of relevant dataelements in the sequence of video data, without having to read andanalyze the sequence itself. This is important for controlling severaldifferent system operations like trickplay operation, such as fastforward and fast reverse play, or random access playback, when a usermay require playback to start at some particular time position in thesequence of video data.

The method disclosed in WO 00/28544 is intended for self-encodedsequences of video data, i.e. the sequences encoded by the same devicewhich creates a corresponding CPI, using a restricted format of the MPEGdata. For recording of digital TV broadcasts or other sequences of videodata coded externally, a less restricted MPEG coding format is employed.

In particular, in an MPEG sequence of video data there is a sequenceheader that defines the parameters for the sequence including codingparameters used in (de)compression of the video data, such asquantization matrices. The sequence header is present at the start ofthe MPEG sequence and may be repeated throughout the sequence. Typicallythe sequence header is repeated before every I-picture. When thesequence header is repeated, only the quantization matrices may bechanged. However, in a system with editing it is possible that othersequence header parameters change at the edit points.

The known method identifies in a CPI starting and ending points for aparticular I-picture in the MPEG sequence. These points are calledI_start and I_end, respectively. Because the sequences are self-encodedit was assumed that all I-pictures would be preceded by the sequenceheader and so all I-pictures are entry points, i.e. a decoder can begindecoding at any I-picture and be sure that it can decode correctly.However, in the case of a digital TV recording, it is not mandatory foran I-picture to be preceded by the sequence header. If the decoder triesto decode such an I-picture without having seen the previous sequenceheader then it will use the wrong coding parameters, if they havechanged, e.g. the wrong quantization matrices or, after an edit point,other parameters. Therefore, in a digital TV recording the I_start/I_endCPI points can only point to I-pictures with sequence header.

To allow random access in digital TV broadcasts, the sequence headerneeds to be repeated quite often in the sequence but it could happenthat the repetition rate is not high enough to allow high qualitytrickplay. An example could be a broadcast recording which repeats thesequence header every 5 seconds. If only pointers to I-pictures withsequence headers are included in a CPI and I-picture only trickplay isperformed with 5 pictures per second, then the minimum trickplay speedis limited to 25 times normal playback speed.

It is a first object of the invention to provide an apparatus forrecording a sequence of video data signals of the type described in theopening paragraph which is capable of generating and recording a newtype of CPI that allows for performing high quality trickplay and randomaccess playback.

It is a second object of the invention to provide an apparatus forreproducing a sequence of video data signals of the type described inthe opening paragraph which is capable of receiving and processing a newtype of CPI, so it can perform high quality trickplay and random accessplayback.

It is a third object of the invention to provide a method of the typedescribed in the opening paragraph which can be applied to generate anew type of CPI that allows for performing high quality trickplay andrandom access playback.

It is a fourth object of the invention to provide a record carrier ofthe type described in the opening paragraph which comprises a new typeof CPI containing controlling information that allows a reproducingapparatus to perform high quality trickplay and random access playback.

The first object is, according to the invention, realized by anapparatus for recording characterized in that the generating means aredesigned to generate the characteristic point information signals, inwhich the identification data comprises information related to presenceof a sequence header, the sequence header comprising informationdefining coding parameters for the sequence of video data signals.

The embodiment according to the invention is advantageous in that thegenerated CPI may now contain all I-pictures 23 from the MPEG sequence.It ensures that a decoder always, i.e. regardless whether the sequenceis self-encoded or not, knows where to find coding parameters, whileperforming random access playback or trickplay.

An embodiment of the apparatus for recording is characterized in thatthe generating means are designed to generate the characteristic pointinformation signals, in which the identification data comprisesinformation related to one of the following conditions:

-   -   the picture is of the intra-picture type 23 and is preceded by        the sequence header;    -   the picture is of the intra-picture type 23 without the sequence        header;    -   the picture is of the inter-picture type 25 and is preceded by        the sequence header.

This embodiment is advantageous in that the generated CPI may nowcontain as many as necessary entries associated with P-pictures 25,which drastically improves trickplay performance.

A further embodiment, according to the invention, for the apparatus forrecording is characterized in that the generating means are designed togenerate the characteristic point information signals, in which theidentification data comprises information related to a change of thecoding parameters.

This embodiment is advantageous in that the generated CPI containingthis information significantly improves performance of a decoder. Duringtrickplay, a sequence header from a particular I-picture does not haveto be read if there is no change of the coding parameters and thesubsequent P-pictures can still be included. For reverse trickplay, achange in the coding parameters indicates that the preceding I-picturesuse a different sequence header. Therefore the sequence header from theprevious I-picture must be read before those P-pictures can be decoded.

The second object is, according to the invention, realized by anapparatus for reproducing characterized in that the extracting means aredesigned to retrieve the identification data comprising informationrelated to presence of a sequence header, the sequence header comprisinginformation defining coding parameters for the sequence of video datasignals and the processing means are designed to use information relatedto presence of the sequence header.

This apparatus is advantageous in that during system operations liketrickplay more pictures are available for presentation. In addition, theinvention increases the number of entry points used in random accessplayback. Moreover, the invention allows for a proper decoding of allpictures related to CPI entries, as a decoder knows where to find thecoding parameters.

An embodiment of the apparatus for reproducing, according to theinvention, is characterized in that

-   -   the extracting means are designed to retrieve the identification        data further comprising information related to one of the        following conditions:        -   the picture is of the intra-picture type 23 and is preceded            by the sequence header;        -   the picture is of the intra-picture type 23 without the            sequence header; and        -   the picture is of the inter-picture type 25 and is preceded            by the sequence header.    -   the processing means are designed to use information related to        the above conditions.        This embodiment is advantageous in that it facilities smooth        multi-speed trickplay by making use of additional entries in a        CPI associated with P-pictures.

Further embodiment of the apparatus for reproducing, according to theinvention, is characterized in that

-   -   the extracting means are designed to retrieve the identification        data comprising information related to a change of the coding        parameters; and    -   the processing means are designed to use information related to        the change of the coding parameters.        This embodiment is advantageous in that it improves performance        of a decoder by decreasing the amount of time necessary to        decode pictures.

The third object is, according to the invention, realized by a methodcharacterized in that the block of information is generated to comprisein the identification data information related to presence of a sequenceheader, the sequence header comprising information defining codingparameters for the sequence of video data signals.

The fourth object is, according to the invention, realized by a recordcarrier characterized in that the identification data comprisescontrolling information related to presence of a sequence header, thesequence header comprising information defining coding parameters forthe sequence of video data signals.

These and other aspects of the invention will be further elucidated anddescribed with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the apparatus for recording a sequence ofvideo data signals, in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a structure of the block of information,which includes information related to the presence of the sequenceheader.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a structure of the block of information,which includes combined information related to a type of a picture andthe presence of the sequence header.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a structure of the block of information,which includes information related to a change of coding parameters.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the apparatus for reproducing a sequenceof video data signals, in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the method of generating a CPI with thestructure of the block of information as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the method of generating a CPI with thestructure of the block of information as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the method of generating a CPI with thestructure of the block of information as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 shows a fragment of the sequence of video data signals withpictures, pointers to which can be included in a CPI according to theknown method.

FIG. 10 shows a fragment of the sequence of video data signals withpictures, pointers to which can be included in a CPI according to theinvention.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the apparatus for recording a sequence ofvideo data signals, in accordance with the invention. The apparatuscomprises an input terminal 1 for receiving video data signals and avideo data signals processing unit 100. The signals processing unit 100receives the video data signals via the input terminal 1 and processesthe video data signals into a sequence of video data signals forrecording the sequence of video data signals on a record carrier 3.Further, a read/write unit 102 is available. The read/write unit 102comprises a read/write head 104, which is in the present example anoptical read/write head for reading/writing the sequence of video datasignals and a corresponding CPI from/on the record carrier 3. Further,positioning means 106 are present for positioning the head 104 in aradial direction across the record carrier 3. A read/write amplifier 108is present in order to amplify the signal to be recorded and amplifyingthe signal read from the record carrier 3. A motor 110 is available forrotating the record carrier 3 in response to a motor control signalsupplied by a motor control signal generator unit 112. A microprocessor114 is present for controlling all the circuits via control lines 116,118 and 120.

The signals processing unit 100 is further adapted to generate thecorresponding CPI for the sequence of video data signals. To thatpurpose, the signals processing unit 100 is, as an example, capable ofidentifying position of an I-picture in the sequence of video datasignals. It is also capable of detecting presence of a sequence headerin the sequence of video data signals. Further, the signals processingunit 100 is capable of generating a block of information for acharacteristic point corresponding to this I-picture, as shown by anexample in FIG. 2. In this example the block of information has a lengthof 4 bytes and consists of: a 1-bit sequence header presence indicator41 (SHI), a 13-bit presentation time stamp 42 (PTS) specifying a timeduring presentation of the sequence of video data when a particularpicture is to be presented and an 18-bit source packet number 43 (SPN)specifying an address in the sequence of video data where thecharacteristic point is located.

The CPI can be temporarily stored in a memory 132, until the processingof the video data signals into the sequence of video data signals and,eventually, the subsequent recording on the record carrier 3, has beencompleted. Next, the CPI stored in the memory 132 can be recorded on therecord carrier 3.

Another embodiment of the apparatus for recording the sequence of videodata signals according to the invention is realized by adapting theread/write unit 102 to perform reading/writing of the sequence of videodata signals and a corresponding CPI from/on the record carrier of asolid state memory type.

A further embodiment of the apparatus for recording the sequence ofvideo data signals according to the invention is realized by adaptingthe signals processing unit 100 to facilitate identification ofI-pictures 23 and P-pictures 25, in combination with detection of asequence header in the sequence of video data signals. In addition, thesignals processing unit 100 is capable of generating a block ofinformation for a characteristic point, as shown by an example in FIG.3. In this example the block of information has a length of 4 bytes andconsists of: a 2-bit picture type indicator 44 (TYP), a 12-bit PTS 42and an 18-bit SPN 43.

The CPI created by this embodiment contains three, new entry typescalled: Primary Entry Points, Secondary Entry Points and Dependant EntryPoints, respectively. Primary Entry Points are points at which a decodercan start decoding without reference to any previous points in thesequence of video. Secondary Entry Points are points at which a decodercan start decoding as long as a picture corresponding to the previousPrimary Entry Point was decoded. Dependant Entry Points are points forwhich corresponding pictures can only be decoded if a picturecorresponding to the previous CPI entry, which can be either of thethree types, was decoded.

These points are defined without reference to MPEG to highlight thatthey could be applied to other video coding methods with dependantparts.

The mapping to MPEG video is as follows: Primary Entry Points—pointsassociated with I-pictures preceded by a sequence header, SecondaryEntry Points—points associated with any of I-pictures (but typicallyonly used for I-pictures without a sequence header), DependantPoints—points associated with P-pictures.

A next embodiment of the apparatus for recording the sequence of videodata signals according to the invention is realized by adapting thesignals processing unit 100 to detect changes in coding parametersbetween consecutive sequence headers. Further, the signals processingunit 100 is capable of generating a block of information for acharacteristic point, as shown by an example in FIG. 4. In this examplethe block of information has a length of 4 bytes and consists of: a2-bit TYP 44, a 1-bit coding parameters change indicator 45 (CPC), a12-bit PTS 42 and a 17-bit SPN 43.

Yet another embodiment of the apparatus for recording the sequence ofvideo data signals can be realized by providing an input unit 130 forreceiving commands from a user. Such commands can be in a form ofrecording commands, e.g. identifying a characteristic point in thesequence of video data signals.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the apparatus for reproducing a sequenceof video data signals from a record carrier 3, in accordance with theinvention. The apparatus comprises a read unit 302, a signals processingunit 300 and an output terminal 202 for outputting video data signals.The read unit 302 comprises a read head 304, which is in the presentexample an optical read head for reading the sequence of video datasignals from the record carrier 3. The signals processing unit 300receives the sequence of video data signals from a read unit 302 andprocesses the sequence of video data signals into video data signals.Further, positioning means 306 are present for positioning the head 304in a radial direction across the record carrier 3. A read amplifier 308is present in order to amplify the signal read from the record carrier3. A motor 310 is available for rotating the record carrier 3 inresponse to a motor control signal supplied by a motor control signalgenerator unit 312. A microprocessor 314 is present for controlling allthe circuits via control lines 316, 318 and 320.

The signals processing unit 300 is adapted to convert the sequence ofvideo data signals into the video data signals, which can be outputtedto another apparatus (e.g. a television set) or to another processingunit not shown in the figure. Further, the read unit 302 is adapted toread a CPI from the record carrier 3. The signals processing unit 300 isfurther adapted to receive the CPI from the read unit 302 and to extracta block of information related to a characteristic point in the sequenceof video data signals, as shown in FIG. 2.

The apparatus is further provided with an input unit 330 for receivingcommands from a user. Such commands can be in a form of differentplayback commands, e.g. identifying a specific point in the sequence ofvideo data signals at which playback should start. To that purpose, theprocessing unit 300 is, as an example, capable of finding position of anI-picture with a sequence header.

The CPI can be stored in a memory 332.

A further embodiment of the apparatus for reproducing the sequence ofvideo data signals is realized by adapting the signals processing unit300 to process information contained in a block of information of a typeshown in FIG. 3. This facilities smooth multi-speed trickplay operationof the apparatus by making use of additional entries in a CPI associatedwith P-pictures.

Another embodiment of the apparatus for reproducing the sequence ofvideo data signals according to the invention is realized by adaptingthe signals processing unit 300 to interpret information concerningchange of coding parameters between consecutive sequence headers, from ablock of information of a type shown in FIG. 4.

A next embodiment of the apparatus for reproducing the sequence of videodata signals is realized by adapting the signals processing unit 300 inany of previous embodiments to receive the sequence of video datasignals and/or a corresponding CPI via an input terminal 201. Thisenhances functionality of the apparatus by making it possible to processthe sequence of video data signals received from e.g. the read unit 302,using the corresponding CPI received from e.g. Internet.

Yet another embodiment of the apparatus for reproducing the sequence ofvideo data signals is realized by adapting the read unit 302 to performreading of the sequence of video data signals and the corresponding CPIfrom the record carrier of a solid state memory type.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the method of generating a CPI, inaccordance with the invention and corresponding to the block ofinformation as shown in FIG. 2. In step 502 a type of a picture isdetermined. If a picture is the I-picture, a presence of the sequenceheader is checked in step 504. If the sequence header precedes theI-picture a value of the sequence header indicator 41 SHI is set tobinary ‘1’ in step 505, otherwise SHI is set to binary ‘0’ in step 506.In step 507 a value of the presentation time stamp 42 PTS is determined.In step 508 a value of the source packet number 43 SPN is determined.The block of information is created in step 509. In step 510 it ischecked whether there are more pictures in the sequence of video data.If there are more pictures, next picture is taken to analysis in step511.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the method of generating a CPI, inaccordance with the invention and corresponding to the block ofinformation as shown in FIG. 3. In step 602 a type of a picture isdetermined. If a picture is the I-picture, a presence of the sequenceheader is checked in step 604. If the sequence header precedes theI-picture a value of the picture type indicator 44 TYP is set to binary‘3’ in step 605, otherwise TYP is set to binary ‘2’ in step 606. If apicture is the P-picture, a presence of the sequence header is checkedin step 611. If the sequence header precedes the P-picture a value ofthe picture type indicator 44 TYP is set to binary ‘1’ in step 612. Instep 607 a value of the presentation time stamp 42 PTS is determined. Instep 608 a value of the source packet number 43 SPN is determined. Theblock of information is created in step 609. In step 613 it is checkedwhether there are more pictures in the sequence of video data. If thereare more pictures, next picture is taken to analysis in step 614.

FIG. 8 shows next embodiment of the method of generating a CPI, inaccordance with the invention and corresponding to the block ofinformation as shown in FIG. 4. In step 702 a type of a picture isdetermined. If a picture is the I-picture, a presence of the sequenceheader is checked in step 704. If the sequence header precedes theI-picture a value of the picture type indicator 44 TYP is set to binary‘3’ in step 705, otherwise TYP is set to binary ‘2’ in step 711. If apicture is the P-picture, a presence of the sequence header is checkedin step 714. If the sequence header precedes the P-picture a value ofthe picture type indicator 44 TYP is set to binary ‘1’ in step 715. Instep 706 it is checked whether there is a change of coding parametersbetween consecutive sequence headers. In case of changes in codingparameters, a value of coding parameters change indicator 45 CPC is setto binary ‘1’, otherwise its value is set to binary ‘0’. In step 708 avalue of the presentation time stamp 42 PTS is determined. In step 709 avalue of the source packet number 43 SPN is determined.

The block of information is created in step 710. In step 716 it ischecked whether there are more pictures in the sequence of video data.If there are more pictures, next picture is taken to analysis in step717.

FIG. 9 shows a fragment of the sequence of video data signals withpictures, pointers to which can be included in a CPI according to theknown method. The sequence of video data signals comprises group ofpictures 22 (GOP) consisting of information of a plurality of pictures.Each GOP starts with an I-picture 23 (I) and can contain P-pictures 25(P) and B-pictures 24 (B). Sequence headers 21 are indicated by SHQ. InFIG. 9, reference 20 denotes pictures pointers to which can be includedin the CPI.

FIG. 10 shows a fragment of the sequence of video data signals withpictures, pointers to which can be included in a CPI according to theinvention. These pictures are denoted by reference 30.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to preferredembodiments thereof, it is to be understood that these are notlimitative examples. Thus, various modifications may become apparent tothose skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of theinvention, as defined by the claims. Further, the invention lies in eachand every novel feature or combination of features described above. Itis noted, that the invention may be implemented by means of a generalpurpose processor executing a computer program or by dedicated hardwareor by a combination of both, and that in this document the word“comprising” does not exclude the presence of other elements or stepsthan those listed and the word “a” or “an” preceding an element does notexclude the presence of a plurality of such elements, that any referencesigns do not limit the scope of the claims, that “means” may berepresented by a single item or a plurality and that several “means” maybe represented by the same item of hardware.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for recording a sequence ofvideo data signals on media, the sequence of video data signalscomprising pictures of an intra-picture type coded without reference toother pictures and pictures of an inter-picture type coded withreference to other pictures, the apparatus comprising: an input forreceiving video data signals; a signal generator to producecharacteristic point information signals for a plurality characteristicpoints, the characteristic point information signals identifying acharacteristic point in the sequence of video data signals, thecharacteristic point being associated with one of a picture selectedfrom the pictures of the intra-picture type and a picture selected frompictures of the inter-picture type, the characteristic point informationsignals comprising a block of information, the block of informationcomprising: position data identifying the position of the characteristicpoint in the sequence of video data signals; the position datacomprising a single packet number specifying an address where thecharacteristic point is located in the sequence of video data signals;and identification data identifying the characteristic point; theidentification data comprising a sequence header presence indicatorindicating whether a sequence header precedes the intra-picture typepicture or associated inter-picture type picture associated with thecharacteristic point; the block of information further comprising apresentation time stamp specifying a time when the associated picture isto be presented in the sequence of video data; a processor to processthe characteristic point information signals for a plurality ofcharacteristic points into a sequence of characteristic pointsinformation signals; and a media writer to write the sequence of videodata signals and the sequence of characteristic points informationsignals on the media in a combined data stream.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the identification data comprises information relatedto one of the following conditions: the picture is of the intra-picturetype and is preceded by the sequence header; the picture is of theintra-picture type without the sequence header; the picture is of theinter-picture type and is preceded by the sequence header.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the identification data comprisesinformation related to a change of the coding parameters.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the media is a disc-shaped optical media,and the media writer comprises an optical read/write head, a positioningmeans for positioning the optical read/write head and moving means forrotating the media.
 5. An apparatus for reproducing a sequence of videodata signals comprising pictures of an intra-picture type coded withoutreference to other pictures and pictures of an inter-picture type codedwith reference to other pictures, able to use for the sequence of videodata signals a corresponding sequence of characteristic pointsinformation signals comprising characteristic point information signalsfor a plurality of characteristic points, the characteristic pointinformation signals identifying a characteristic point in the sequenceof video data signals, the characteristic point being related to apicture selected from the pictures of the intra-picture type and thepictures of the inter-picture type, the characteristic point informationsignals comprising a block of information which comprises: position datadefining a position of the characteristic point in the sequence of videodata signals; and identification data identifying the characteristicpoint; the apparatus comprising: an input to receive a single streamcontaining a sequence of video data signals and the correspondingsequence of characteristic points information signals; an extractor toextract the block of information from the sequence of characteristicpoints information signals; a processor to process the sequence ofencoded video data signals into video data signals using the block ofinformation, the block of information comprising: position dataidentifying the position of the characteristic point in the sequence ofvideo data signals; and the position data comprising a single packetnumber specifying an address where the characteristic point is locatedin the sequence of video data signals; identification data identifyingthe characteristic point; the identification data comprising a sequenceheader presence indicator indicating whether a sequence header precedesthe intra-picture type picture or associated inter-picture type pictureassociated with the characteristic point; the block of informationfurther comprising a presentation time stamp specifying a time when theassociated picture is to be presented in the sequence of video data; andwherein: the extractor retrieves the identification data comprisinginformation related to presence of a sequence header, the sequenceheader comprising information defining coding parameters for thesequence of video data signals; and the processor uses informationrelated to presence of the sequence header.
 6. An apparatus of claim 5,wherein: the extractor retrieves the identification data furthercomprising information related to one of the following conditions: thepicture is of the intra-picture type and is preceded by the sequenceheader; the picture is of the intra-picture type without the sequenceheader; and the picture is of the inter-picture type and is preceded bythe sequence header; and the processing means are designed to useinformation related to these conditions.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5,wherein the extractor retrieves the identification data comprisinginformation related to a change of the coding parameters; and theprocessor uses information related to the change of the codingparameters.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the input receives thesequence of video data signals and the corresponding sequence ofcharacteristic points information signals from a media.
 9. The apparatusof claim 8, wherein the input receives the sequence of video datasignals and the corresponding sequence of characteristic pointsinformation signals from a disc-shaped optical media.
 10. A method ofgenerating a sequence of information signals, the method comprising:receiving a sequence of video data signals comprising pictures of anintra-picture type coded without reference to other pictures andpictures of an inter-picture type coded with reference to otherpictures, the pictures containing characteristic points; selectingpictures from the pictures of the intra-picture type and the pictures ofthe inter-picture type; for each selected picture, generating a block ofinformation for a characteristic point related to the selected picture,the block of information comprising: position data defining a positionof the characteristic point in the sequence of video data signals, theposition data comprising a single packet number specifying an addresswhere the characteristic point is located in the sequence of video datasignals; and identification data identifying the characteristic point;and comprising a sequence header presence indicator indicating whether asequence header precedes intra-picture type picture or associatedinter-picture type picture associated with the characteristic point, thesequence header comprising information defining coding parameters forthe sequence of video data signals, the related information comprising asequence header comprising information defining coding parameters fordecoding the sequence of video data signals, and the block ofinformation further comprising a presentation time stamp specifying atime when the associated picture is to be presented in the sequence ofvideo data.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the block of informationis generated to comprise in the identification data information relatedto one of the following conditions: the picture is of the intra-picturetype and is preceded by the sequence header; the picture is of theintra-picture type without the sequence header; the picture is of theinter-picture type and is preceded by the sequence header.
 12. Themethod of claim 10, wherein in the block of information theidentification data comprises information related to a change of thecoding parameters.
 13. A non-transitory computer readable storage mediumstoring: a sequence of encoded video data signals comprising pictures ofan intra-picture type encoded without reference to other pictures andpictures of an inter-picture type encoded with reference to otherpictures; control information for controlling the operation of aprocessor of a decoding device for decoding the encoded video signalsequence and presenting the pictures; the control information comprisingsequence header information and characteristic point information for aplurality of characteristic points, the characteristic point informationidentifying the position of characteristic points in the sequence ofencoded video signals, the characteristic points being related to apicture selected from the pictures of the intra-picture type and thepictures of the inter-picture type, the characteristic point informationsignals comprising a block of information which comprises: position dataidentifying the position of the characteristic point in the sequence ofvideo data signals; and the position data comprising a single packetnumber specifying an address where the characteristic point is locatedin the sequence of video data signals; identification data identifyingthe characteristic point; the identification data comprising a sequenceheader presence indicator indicating whether a sequence header precedesthe intra-picture type picture or associated inter-picture type pictureassociated with the characteristic point; a block of information furthercomprising a presentation time stamp specifying a time when theassociated picture is to be presented in the sequence of video data. 14.The media of claim 13, wherein the control data controls the operationof the processor of the decoder for decoding the encoded video datasignals and is related to one of the following conditions: the pictureis of the intra-picture type and is preceded by the sequence header; thepicture is of the intra-picture type without the sequence header; thepicture is of the inter-picture type and is preceded by the sequenceheader.
 15. The media of claim 13, wherein the identification datacomprises control data related to a change of the coding parameters.